County · Kentucky
Owen County, Kentucky
Owen County, Kentucky. Owen County had 11,601 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 4 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 21187.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,601
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,278 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,330
Median household income
$61,134
±$3,487 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$168,700
±$16,399 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$830
±$93 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Owen County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 11,278 residents in Owen County. The Census Bureau estimates 11,601 for July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 11,330 over 350 square miles of land.
| Measure | Owen County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,330 | 4,534,824 | +534 |
| Households | 4,252±220 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.64±0.14 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,388±19 | 2,023,116 | −338 |
Owen County's population since 2000
From 10,547 in 2000 to 11,601 in 2025: up 10.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Owen County?
Owen County holds 4 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Owenton with 1,690 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Owen County?
The median resident of Owen County is 42.3 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.9%. 1.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Owen County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3±1.1 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.1%±0.4 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.1%±0.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6% | 5.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.7%±1.0 pts | 81.5% | −4.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.9%±1.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.5%±0.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2%±1.1 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8%±2.0 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 18.7%±2.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4%±2.1 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.5%±3.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.3%±3.6 pts | 27.6% | +7.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.3%±1.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Owen County earn?
Half of Owen County's 4,252 households earn less than $61,134 a year (±$3,487), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $60,059 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Owen County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,134±$3,487 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,128±$7,407 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,369±$2,784 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.3%±3.9 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.5%±6.4 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.7%±3.5 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.4%±3.6 pts | 88.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Owen County?
Owners occupy 88.0% of Owen County's occupied homes and renters 12.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,700 by its owner (±$16,399). The median renter pays $830 a month including utilities, and 33.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Owen County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $168,700±$16,399 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $830±$93 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.1%±12.4 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,385±$119 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 88.0%±2.6 pts | 68.3% | +13.2 pts |
| Housing units | 5,388±19 | 2,023,116 | −338 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0%±1.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 11.9%±13.2 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.8%±4.1 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 22.1%±4.5 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±1.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.2%±3.0 pts | 9.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Owen County building?
Builders took permits for 17 new housing units across Owen County in 2025 (17 single-family), 1.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Owen County get to work?
71.9% of Owen County's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 41.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.
| Measure | Owen County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.0%±3.1 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0%±2.3 pts | 4.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 71.9%±4.8 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.5%±4.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±0.5 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3%±4.3 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 41.9 min±4.7 | 24.0 min | +9.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Owen County's census tracts?
Owen County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $50,400 (Tract 9701) to $78,997 (Tract 9702.02).
| Tract 970121187970100 | 3,052±490 | $50,400 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9702.0121187970201 | 2,372±489 | $53,666 |
| Tract 9702.0221187970202 | 2,862±333 | $78,997 |
| Tract 970321187970300 | 3,044±439 | $62,407 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Owen County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 94th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 42nd of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 103rd of 120 |
| Median household income | 43rd of 120 |
| Median home value | 45th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 40th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 60th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50th of 120 |
| Median age | 38th of 120 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Owen County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.